At the conference RFU discussed the readiness for the 2018 world Cup

The delegates of the Russian football Union (RFU) at the extraordinary conference, which was held on Sunday in St.-Petersburg — on the day after the opening match of the confederations Cup, discussed preparations for the home world Cup and included new members of the Executive Committee of the organization.

«Cooking event, which has not seen the light»

The conference was attended by President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, who was present on Saturday at the stadium «Saint-Petersburg» between Russia and New Zealand (2:0). The head of FIFA now what day repeats its appreciation to the willingness of the country to the world’s largest forum.

«The world’s attention focused on Russia and this year and next. The whole world will watch what is happening in Russia. We — FIFA, UEFA, the organizing Committee is preparing an event which has not yet seen the light. I want to note the remarkable level of infrastructure. Stadium in Saint-Petersburg produces a huge impression, like other stadiums. The world needs a strong Russian football Union. I count on your support, you can count on me,» said Infantino during the conference, noting the excellent organization of the opening match.

Also with the laudatory speech to the RFU and all of Russia was made by the representative of UEFA Zoran Lakovic. And the head of the RFU and the Deputy Prime Minister, Vitaly Mutko drew attention of football officials on the need to carefully approach the preparation of the world championship and again turned to the implementation of the «National strategy for the development of football in the Russian Federation for the period till 2030 (Strategy-2030»), already signed by the Ministry of sports of the Russian Federation.

«We have a unique chance — we’re hosting the world Cup. There is an understanding that the degree of interest in soccer in the country will be higher, we will have to use to raise interest in football, the level of the organization. Yesterday’s match showed that the potential we have is huge, need to use them correctly. In the near future the government will send the «Strategy» of the regional governors. If we do not seize this chance, it will work. Need to work hard next year», — said Mutko during a speech.

The meaning of the conference, which began with a minute of silence in memory of the deceased on 22 may, the day before his 79th anniversary of the commentator Vladimir Peraturan, Mutko explained a good opportunity to talk about the development of football in the country with the regional federations in connection with a match of Russian national team.

At the end of the paragraph about the preparations for the world Cup, took the floor, the General Director of the organizing Committee «Russia-2018» Alexey Sorokin. «System identification of fans successfully passed the test in the opening match of the confederations Cup» has commented on Sorokin outcome of the match in the arena «St.-Petersburg». As for the world Cup, Sorokin has led a well-known statistical indicators.

Next on the agenda of the conference was almost unanimously approved the amendments to the Charter of RFS, which allowed to take to the Executive Committee of the organization of new members. So, to the existing 23 members of the Executive Committee of the RFU added Sorokin, the United Nations high Commissioner for the fight against racism and discrimination in football, the ex-Russia captain Alexei Smertin and the Chairman of the Committee of the RFU marketing Denis Solovyov. And the question of inclusion in the Executive Committee of the RFU representative from the judges will consider at the next conference of the organization.

After the official part Mutko criticized the willingness of the newcomers of the Russian football Premier League (RFPL) — «SKA-Khabarovsk» and «Tosno», as well as a tournament calendar, which will be finalize after 20 June.

«The stability of the calendar should be. We must stop these transfers matches. We just either don’t think or think not. The calendar should be immutable, — said Mutko told reporters. — The structure of the calendar, the League approved. But I’m surprised to see 10 Dec matches. If it does, then these matches should end in the South. I just got the calendar club of the South in July and August, playing at home, when you can play anywhere, and winter is coming, for example, in Perm. But we do not interfere in the activities of the League calendar.»

And the head of the Premier Sergei Pryadkin said that the holding of the finals of the Russian Cup of the upcoming season is scheduled for may 9 in Volgograd.